Australian Resident & Nominee Director Services

For a standard Pty Ltd, at least one director must ordinarily reside in Australia. For a public company, the minimum is three directors, excluding alternates, with at least two ordinarily resident. A proprietary company with crowd-sourced funding shareholders requires at least two directors and a resident majority.

Do not use the one-director rule as a template for every company. The provider should verify company classification, director eligibility, required consent and director identification requirements before appointment.

ASIC makes clear that there is no silent director or director in name only. A professional must understand and oversee company affairs. Financial records, solvency, reporting and the conduct of the business cannot be left outside the appointment scope.

The agreement should identify what the board can decide, what reporting the resident director receives and when specialist legal or accounting review is needed. Indemnity wording and any insurance coverage must be checked; neither makes unlawful conduct acceptable or removes all statutory liability.

Explain where sales, contracts, employees, assets and management actually sit. If the company has no Australian operations yet, say so. A resident director does not by itself prove tax residency, satisfy every regulatory requirement or make the company eligible for all financial services.

Companies involved in digital assets, financial products or other regulated activities need a separate licensing assessment. The professional may set activity restrictions or decline the engagement after reviewing the risk.

Company member records must correctly record whether shares are beneficially held, with relevant notifications when that status changes. This should not be confused with a promise that every ultimate owner is shown in a comprehensive public ASIC register.

Banks still assess the business, controllers and source of funds independently. We can discuss banking requirements alongside the director enquiry, but appointment acceptance and bank account approval are different decisions.

For a new company, explain the intended Australian activity, ownership and who will manage daily operations. For an existing company, include the current board, why a replacement is needed and whether any filings or financial obligations are overdue. The proposed professional needs enough information to decide whether they can take the role.

Compare proposals on reporting frequency, access to accounts, decision authority, activity restrictions and the departure process, not just a headline fee. Ask who will coordinate director consent, director ID requirements, ASIC notifications and records handover. Do not assume an overseas director can obtain a resident appointment immediately or that a nominee label reduces responsibility.